With roster-freeze lifted, teams begin building for next year

Commerce City, Colo. - With the 2012 MLS season now in the books, teams today began the building process for next year after the roster-freeze was lifted.

The Rapids had previously announced that Re-Entry Draft eligible players Conor Casey, Tyrone Marshall, Joseph Nane, Ian Joyce, Tyson Wahl, and Scott Palguta are not part of the club's plans for 2013, therefor all are eligible to enter the Re-Entry Draft.

And today, Techical Director Paul Bravo confirmed that the club is in negotiations for new contracts with defenders Marvell Wynne and Hunter Freeman and midfielder Jamie Smith.

“We’re continuing to have conversations with Marvell, Hunter, and Jamie about new contracts to keep them here at the Rapids," Bravo told ColoradoRapids.com. "We’re hopeful we can re-sign each of these players ahead of the 2013 season as we rework our roster in preparation for next year.”

Wynne, Freeman, and Smith are also eligible for the Re-Entry Draft, but can opt out from entering and continue negotiating with the Rapids, where Colorado would retain their rights. The players must notify MLS by the evening of Thursday, December 6 of their decision.

To be eligible for the Re-Entry Draft, players must meet at least one of these criteria:

Be at least 23 years old with a minimum of three years of MLS experience and whose options were not excercised.

Be at least 25 years old with a minimum of four years of MLS experience, be out of contract, and not have received a 'Bona Fide' offer

Be at least 30 years old with a minimum of eight year of MLS experience, be out of contract, and not have received a 'Bona Fide' offer.

Clubs must exercise the option for, or extend a Bona Fide Offer to, all players selected in Stage 1. Players that were out of contract may either accept or reject the Bona Fide Offer. Should a player reject the offer, the drafting club will hold the right of first refusal for that player in MLS. Players with option years left on their contract will automatically be added to the drafting club’s roster. COMPLETE RULES

Both Stage One and Stage Two drafts will be conducted in the same order as the traditional Waiver Draft, with Colorado holding the sixth pick.

Stage 2 of the Re-Entry Draft is on December 14.

*The Re-Entry process was introduced in 2010 as part of the collective bargaining agreement between the MLS Players Union and Major League Soccer to allow eligible players the opportunity to either stay at their current contract numbers by joining another team (Stage 1) or negotiate a new contract with a new club (though Stage 2).Colorado selected Tyrone Marshall and Hunter Freeman in the previous two year's Re-Entry Drafts.